...about animal cruelty at school today?

NC. My DC13 is at a large state secondary. At school today a little bird - possibly already ill or injured - landed in the playground. Before my DC could even try to help or move it, it was stamped upon to suffering and then to death by an older and bigger pupil, a boy. It was a deliberate act of cruelty rather than putting it out of its misery. Other pupils including my DC screamed and scattered. My DC couldn't find a member of staff to report it to at the time, and doesn't know the boy or even his name. When my DC returned, the bird had obviously been kicked about and was in pieces. My DC was in tears about it when they got home, and I don't think it will ever be forgotten. My DC is an animal lover, but also abhors any sort of cruelty.

I have comforted my DC and spoken to them about why this boy might have done what he did, and advised them to avoid him in the future. I have suggested that they could have reported it to staff later, but I think they spent the rest of the day in shock after witnessing that.

How common is this kind of cruelty in schools? My concern is also about and for the boy who did it - why, and what else is going on with him and perhaps at home? My instinct is to report it to the Head. Am I overreacting? AIBU?

Thank you for your replies. I don't think there is CCTV and my DC doesn't know the name or even the year of the boy, which makes it a bit harder. Yes, I was also thinking about the link between cruelty to animals and other violence.

Definitely report this. It should be investigated (there were witnesses) and the boy punished. The poor other kids who had to watch this! As a teacher if I witnessed this I would want the child excluded - disgusting.

There is a strong link between children who commit cruelty to animals, especially what one would see as higher animals, going onto hurt other people. Identified by child psychologists in many of the infamous cases of children who have comitted horrific crimes.

I never saw it at my schools and this is the first time my DC has seen it. I'm not saying everyone who does this sort of thing, especially when young, turns out bad but it seems such a horrible and unnecessary thing for someone to do.